JP4861033B2 - Drug delivery device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a liquid agent discharge device such as a drug discharge device that discharges and inhales a drug as fine droplets, and in particular, discharges a liquid agent for health management and the like configured to be carried by a user. Involved in technology for safer use of equipment.

In recent years, with the advancement of medicine and science, the average life span has been extended and it is becoming an aging society. On the other hand, changes in eating habits and living environment and environmental pollution are progressing, and new diseases and infectious diseases caused by viruses and fungi have been found. In particular, in countries called developed countries, an increase in patients with lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes and hypertension is a problem.

On the other hand, the number of medical institutions has not increased to accommodate such an increase in the number of patients, and there are areas where there are no medical institutions that can be visited, so there are concerns about future responses including policies.

To explain with a specific example, among patients with diabetes that are currently on the rise, patients with insulin-dependent diabetes called type I do not secrete insulin from the pancreas, so it is necessary to administer insulin regularly. is there. Since insulin is currently administered by subcutaneous injection, the physical and mental burden on the user is large.

In order to reduce such a burden on the user, a pen-type syringe that has a thin needle and does not feel much pain has been developed. However, patients with type I diabetes often live in the same way as healthy people except that they need to administer insulin regularly. Due to mental resistance, it becomes difficult to administer at the appropriate time.

As a result, the user may not be able to take appropriate measures with such a method, but it is possible to utilize an information database such as an electronic medical record by a drug ejection device that inhales the user and takes the drug. Treatment for the elderly is being realized. Such a medicine ejection device has storage means for storing information about the individual user including information on the user's medical record and prescription. It is also a portable terminal equipped with an inhaler that discharges medicine as fine droplets and inhales to the user, and controls the inhaler according to the inhalation profile so that the user can inhale the medicine according to the prescription information Thus, it has a discharge control means for discharging the medicine.

Such a medicine ejection device can accurately manage the dosage and administration interval of the medicine according to the prescription, and can appropriately administer the medicine by performing appropriate ejection control according to the inspiratory profile of each user. According to this, since it is not necessary to use a medical device such as a syringe when administering a drug as in the past, it is possible to easily operate without specialized knowledge, and the pain to the user due to the injection needle is also possible. Can be eliminated.

In general, it is known that the deposition of drug microdroplets in the lung depends on the particle size. In particular, in order to reach the alveoli, which is deep in the lung, droplets with a droplet size between 1 and 5 μm and a narrow particle size distribution are required, and the development of a device that can administer this with high reproducibility is underway. Yes.

On the other hand, since it is a device that administers a medicine to the human body, a more appropriate countermeasure for dealing with the malfunction of the medicine discharge unit is required. Further, even when the medicine ejection unit in the medicine ejection apparatus is normally set, there is a possibility of ejection failure due to battery consumption or the like when the medicine ejection apparatus itself needs to be carried. In addition, there is a possibility that the required amount cannot be inhaled even if the remaining amount of the medicine is insufficient. Thus, unlike administration by a syringe, since the intake state of the drug cannot be reliably confirmed, there is a concern that the user may feel uneasy due to the reliability of ejection.

The following techniques have been proposed as means for solving such anxiety. In other words, preliminary discharge is performed, drug discharge is detected by a detection unit such as a semiconductor sensor, the apparatus side determines the appropriateness of discharge based on the detection result, and an appropriate warning is appropriately performed. A technology has been devised to improve the reliability (see Patent Document 1).

The following technique has been proposed for an ink jet recording head. In other words, a technique has been devised in which a microphone is incorporated in the recording head, the sound due to the cavitation phenomenon that occurs when the liquid is heated and boiled is measured by the microphone output waveform, and the quality of ejection is judged on the apparatus side (Patent Document 2) reference).
JP 2004-97617 A JP 2004-167773 A

As the medicine discharge detection means of Patent Document 1, there are optical means such as means for detecting reflected light, refracted light, transmitted light, scattered light by a discharged medicine atmosphere, or using a laser. Or the method of detecting the temperature change by chemical | medical agent discharge using infrared rays, the method of using the humidity sensor which detects the capacity | capacitance in a chemical | medical agent atmosphere, or an impedance change etc. are mentioned.

However, in these methods, the outputs of various sensors are processed by the calculation means, and the discharge state is determined on the apparatus side. Therefore, there is a possibility that false detection caused by the sensor or calculation means, the use environment, aging, etc. may occur. Yes, there are concerns about anxiety to users. In addition, there is a concern that the user is uneasy in that the user does not check the discharge state by himself / herself. These concerns are the same even when the method of Patent Document 2 is used.

In view of the above problems, the drug ejection equipment of the present invention, ejecting medicine agent as the chemical with bubble jet head, a drug agent delivery device to be inhaled by a user, comprising a presentation means It is characterized by that. Here, the presenting means is a means for presenting the discharge state and allowing the user to confirm without performing the determination of the discharge state when the head performs a preliminary discharge operation smaller than the normal discharge amount. is there. Furthermore, when the head performs the preliminary ejection operation, the presenting means collects a sound that is emitted at the time of ejection, and a sound that makes a user listen to the sound collected by the sound collection means Means.

By the presenting means, the user can confirm whether the preliminary ejection is normally performed by visually or / and listening to the state of ejection of the droplet. As an example, the presenting means includes passage means for enabling the discharge to be confirmed by visual observation from the outside (see Examples 1 and 2 described later). In this case, a light emitting means for illuminating the vicinity of the portion where the discharge occurs with visible light may be further provided so that the discharge can be confirmed by visual observation from the outside. As another example, the presenting means includes an image pickup means such as a CCD for picking up the vicinity of the portion where the ejection occurs, and a display means for displaying the image picked up by the image pickup means as it is or processing it on the display unit. (See Examples 3 and 4 below). In this case, a light emitting means for illuminating the vicinity of the portion where the discharge occurs may be further provided so that the vicinity of the portion where the discharge occurs can be imaged. As another example, the presenting means includes sound collecting means for collecting sounds emitted at the time of ejection, and sound generation means for allowing a user to listen to sounds collected by the sound collecting means ( (See Examples 5 and 6 below). In this case, the presenting means may further include an amplifying means for amplifying the sound collected by the sound collecting means.

According to the present invention, preliminary discharge is performed before inhalation, and whether or not the preliminary discharge is correctly executed can be confirmed by the user himself / herself through the sense of the discharge without any judgment on the apparatus side. , Will be able to judge. Accordingly, it is possible to further improve the reliability of ejection and to give the user a sense of security.

Hereinafter, specific examples will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7 in order to clarify the embodiment of the present invention.

[Example 1]
1 and 2 are drawings showing the structure of the main part of a first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a medicine discharge device main body, and 2 denotes a medicine discharge unit including a tank storing a medicine. The medicine ejection unit 2 has a head part (ejection part) 12 that ejects medicine on the surface on the other side of the sheet. The medicine discharge unit 2 can be detachably attached to a discharge unit attachment portion 19 provided on the apparatus main body 1 side. Further, when the medicine discharge unit 2 is attached to the discharge unit attachment portion 19, the electrical connection portion thereof is connected to the electrical contact 13 of the discharge unit attachment portion 19, so that electric power and various electric power are supplied from the battery and the control circuit on the apparatus body 1 side. Receive control signals. This medicine ejection apparatus is typically an apparatus configured to be carried and carried by a user.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a gas flow path which is a passage means provided in the medicine ejection device 1. In the illustrated example, the gas flow path 3 is bent in terms of the arrangement relationship with other components, but may be formed to extend straight. When the medicine discharge unit 2 is attached to the discharge unit attachment part 19, the head part 12 is exposed to the gas flow path 3. Reference numeral 4 denotes a light emitting means such as a high-intensity LED that is provided on the gas flow path 3 and emits beam-shaped light across the gas flow path 3 in an appropriate direction. The light emitting means 4 is arranged so as to come in the vicinity of the head unit 12 in order to illuminate the mist droplet atmosphere discharged from the head unit 12. 5 is a mouthpiece used by the user during inhalation. The mouthpiece 5 can also be detachably attached to the apparatus main body 1 with the concave portion 15 meshing with the convex portion 14 provided in the gas flow path 3. In view of hygiene, the medicine discharge unit 2 and the mouthpiece 5 are preferably disposable or periodically exchanged, and therefore may have a structure in which both are integrated.

Further, 6 is an inlet (air intake port) of the gas flow path 3, and 7 is an outlet (discharge port). When the mouthpiece 5 is attached to the outlet 7 and the inhalation operation is performed by pressing the power button 17, the medicine is ejected from the head part 12 of the medicine ejection unit 2, and the medicine that has been made into droplets passes through the gas flow path 3 to the inlet 6 Head to outlet 7. Air enters through the inlet 6 by inhalation, and the medicine that is made into droplets by the generated air flow is taken into the human body through the mouthpiece 5 attached to the outlet 7. At this time, if the user's inhalation is started and the negative pressure (related to the inhalation speed or flow rate) detected by the negative pressure sensor 16 reaches an area where the medicine can be ejected, the control unit controls the head unit 12 to The medicine discharge is started. The configuration of the head portion is preferably a configuration in which droplet diameter is between 1 and 5 μm and droplets with a narrow particle size distribution can be discharged. In particular, a configuration in which a large amount of minute droplets is discharged using an inkjet head capable of performing more accurate droplet control, particularly a bubble jet (registered trademark) head using a heater is preferable. Of course, a discharge unit such as a method using a piezo element can also be used.

Furthermore, 8 is a slide-type cover, and the cover 8 is slid and closed to close the open portion of the upper surface of the gas flow path 3, and the medicine discharge unit 2 is fixed. 1 and 2 show the open state. The power switch may be turned on in conjunction with the closing of the cover 8.

In the present embodiment, discharge during normal medicine inhalation is started in conjunction with the inhalation operation by a detection means such as the negative pressure sensor 16. On the other hand, at the time of preliminary ejection for checking the ejection state of the head unit 12, ejection is started by a switch operation or the like that allows the user to arbitrarily designate the start. The preliminary discharge amount may be set to be equal to or less than the normal discharge amount on the apparatus side, or may be performed by adjusting the switch operation by the user. At this time, the light emitting means 4 may be turned on simultaneously with the start of preliminary discharge, or the user may be turned on with another switch.

In the case of this preliminary discharge, an air flow as in the normal use described above is not generated, and the discharged medicine drifts in the form of a mist in the flow path 3 near the head portion 12. It is possible to visually confirm whether or not preliminary ejection is being performed by illuminating the state where the drug droplets ejected at the time of preliminary ejection drift in a mist state in a relatively dark place by the light emitting means 4 and observing from the inlet 6. Since both the inlet 6 and the outlet 7 of the flow path 3 which also serves as the passage means which is the presenting means of the present invention are open to the outside of the medicine ejection device 1, the inside of the gas flow path 3 is visually observed through them. It is possible. However, since the mouthpiece 5 is usually connected to the outlet 7 at this time, it is easier to observe from the inlet 6. Here, if it can be confirmed that the preliminary discharge is normally performed, the liquid agent may be sucked into the normal use as it is. If the normal execution of the preliminary discharge cannot be confirmed, the preliminary discharge is reconfirmed. If the preliminary discharge is not confirmed, an appropriate measure may be taken such as replacing the medicine discharge unit 2.

According to the present embodiment, the user himself / herself has a relatively simple configuration in which the light emitting means 4 is provided so that the medicine discharge unit 2 can be controlled so that the preliminary discharge is performed, and the user himself / herself can discharge the minute droplets. Can be confirmed visually. Accordingly, it is possible to further improve the reliability of normal ejection and to give the user a sense of security.

In the above configuration, the passage means also serves as a flow path for the gas flow containing the liquid droplets at the time of inhalation of the liquid droplets, but may be provided separately from the flow path for the gas flow.

By the way, in the above description, the configuration is such that the user confirms whether discharge is appropriate or good. However, the apparatus may determine whether discharge is appropriate or not on the apparatus side. For example, determination means provided with the detection means disclosed in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2 above, or determination means for determining the imaging result of the imaging means described in Example 3 or the sound collection result of the sound collecting means described in Example 5 Is provided on the device side. Then, only when it is determined that both the user and the apparatus are normal, the liquid medicine may be inhaled by shifting to normal use. For example, if it is determined that the user is normal but the device is not suitable, even if the user presses the normal discharge button, no discharge is performed or some warning is given. To prevent it from proceeding automatically to the previous step. In this way, the configuration is somewhat complicated, but the reliability for normal ejection can be further improved. Such changes can also be applied to the embodiments described below.

[Example 2]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The external structure of the present embodiment is also as shown in FIGS. In the present embodiment, the control means is configured so that the predischarge and the normal discharge are different from the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows an operation flowchart of the medicine ejection device 1 of the present embodiment. First, the user enters a use start state by an operation such as pressing the power switch by the user (step S001). After the start of use, the apparatus checks the presence / absence of the medicine discharge unit 2 (S002), and if not, ends the process (S021). As a detecting means for determining whether or not the medicine discharge unit 2 is in the attachment portion 19, for example, when the medicine discharge unit 2 discharges by a method using a heater, the resistance value of the heater serving as the discharge energy generating means is measured. Can be realized.

If there is the medicine discharge unit 2, the remaining battery level is checked (S003), and if not enough, the process ends (S021). In this case, display for prompting battery replacement or charging may be performed using the display means 18 (see FIG. 2) or the like. When it is determined that the remaining battery capacity can execute at least one preliminary discharge and one suction operation, the power is turned on (S004) and initial setting (S005) is performed. When the medicine discharge unit 2 is a single use type, the number of preliminary discharge operations is reset at the initial setting (S005) stage.

After the initial setting (S005) is completed, it is necessary to perform the preliminary discharge operation at least once for the purpose of improving the discharge reliability. Therefore, the preliminary discharge switch determination (S006) may be automated.

When the preliminary discharge start is instructed automatically or manually, a display (S007) for notifying the user that the preliminary discharge is in progress is performed, and the preliminary discharge from the discharge head 12 and the light emitting means 4 of the light emission means 4 are displayed to start the confirmation work. Lighting is executed (S008). Here, the user visually confirms the preliminary discharge state through the flow path 3.

In the preliminary ejection, it is assumed that the ejection conditions such as the driving frequency and the driving time suitable for visual observation differ depending on the type, prescription, and additive of the medicine. When the discharge conditions are different, the amount of medicine and power consumed in the preliminary discharge change. In order to secure the amount of medicine necessary for at least one inhalation, a control function for limiting the number of preliminary ejections by a user operation is required. Regarding the amount of medicine, it is desirable that the amount of medicine consumed in the preliminary discharge is smaller than the amount of medicine required for inhalation. Assuming that the required inhalation amount is A, the amount consumed in the preliminary discharge is B, the total capacity stored in the medicine discharge unit 2 or the maximum single use amount is C, (CA) / B (> 1) times Preliminary ejection is allowed. After the preliminary discharge operation is completed, the number of preliminary discharge operations is counted up to end the confirmation work, and the light emitting means 4 is turned off (S009).

Here, as described in the first embodiment, when determining whether discharge is appropriate or not by an appropriate means on the apparatus side, when it is determined that both the user and the apparatus are normal. However, it may be configured to proceed to the following steps.

Since there is a possibility that some abnormalities occur in the medicine discharge unit 2 due to the preliminary discharge, which may hinder the inhalation, the medicine discharge device 1 is provided with the inspection means of the medicine discharge unit 2, and after the preliminary discharge is finished, the medicine discharge unit 2 Inspection is performed (S010). This inspection means itself may be the same as the means for checking the presence or absence of the medicine discharge unit 2 in the check (S002) of the medicine discharge unit 2. If it is determined that there is an abnormality in the medicine discharge unit 2, the user is notified by some means, and the unit replacement is urged (S013).

Next, in order to secure the power necessary for at least one inhalation as well as the remaining amount of medicine, the remaining battery level is checked in the same manner as in step (S003) (S011). When it is determined that there is no room for the preliminary discharge in the remaining amount of the battery, display (S014) prompting prompt suction operation or battery replacement is performed by some means.

When the remaining battery capacity is sufficient, it is determined whether or not the number of preliminary discharges has reached the upper limit (C-A) / B times (S012). If the number of preliminary discharges has not reached the upper limit, the monitoring of the preliminary discharge switch (S016) to the suction monitoring (S017) are repeated. When the preliminary ejection switch is turned on, the processes after the display during preliminary ejection (S007) are repeated.

By repeating the preliminary discharge operation, the number of preliminary discharges eventually reaches the upper limit. In this case, a prompt for prompting an inhalation operation or prompting for replacement of the medicine discharge unit 2 is executed (S015), and the user's inhalation start is awaited.

When inhalation is detected, a display (S018) for notifying the user that discharge is in progress and discharge (S019) are executed. After power is turned off (S020), the process ends (S021).

When the medicine discharge unit 2 is not a single use type, a history of the number of preliminary discharge operations and the number of inhalations is stored at the stage of power-off (S020) or end (S021). Thus, the remaining amount of the liquid agent is grasped and prepared for the next use.

Further, after completion of the discharge (S019), the check of the medicine discharge unit 2 similar to step (S002) / (S010) or the remaining battery level check similar to step (S003) / (S011) may be executed.

In order to perform the operation as described above, for example, a program for executing the above procedure may be installed in the memory of the control means including the CPU. According to the present embodiment, since the suction operation cannot be performed unless the preliminary discharge operation is performed at least once, the reliability of the normal discharge is further improved and the user is given a sense of security. Can do. In this embodiment as well, the user can visually check the discharge state of the micro droplets with a relatively simple configuration in which the medicine discharge unit 2 can be controlled so that the preliminary discharge is performed and only the light emitting means 4 is provided. I can confirm.

Moreover, you may give the device for raising the visibility at the time of visual observation. For example, by configuring the viewing direction so that the light emission direction from the light emitting means 4 does not substantially face each other, visibility is improved so that the direct emission light is not visually observed.

[Example 3]
2 and 4 show the structure of the main part of the third embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 9 denotes a CCD sensor which is an imaging means, and more specifically, a window where the CCD sensor takes an image.

Also in the present embodiment, the discharge during normal medicine inhalation is started in conjunction with the inhalation operation by the detection means such as the negative pressure sensor 16. On the other hand, at the time of preliminary ejection for checking the ejection state of the head unit 12, ejection is started by a switch operation or the like that allows the user to arbitrarily designate the start. The preliminary discharge amount may be set to be equal to or less than the normal discharge amount on the apparatus side, or may be performed by adjusting the switch operation by the user. At this time, the light emitting means 4 may be turned on simultaneously with the start of preliminary discharge, or the user may be turned on with another switch. These are the same as in the first embodiment.

In the case of this preliminary discharge, an air flow as in the normal use described above is not generated, and the discharged medicine drifts in the form of a mist in the flow path 3 near the head portion 12. Illuminate with the light emitting means 4 the state in which the drug droplets ejected during the preliminary ejection drift in a mist in a relatively dark place, take an image with the CCD sensor 9, and observe the image displayed on the display unit of the display means As a result, the user can visually check and confirm whether or not the preliminary ejection is appropriate. As for the display part of the display means, for example, a part of the cover 8 is a transparent part, and when the cover 8 is slid and closed, the lower display part can be seen from the outside. It is provided on the back side of the main body of the device. Here, if it can be confirmed that the preliminary discharge is normally performed, the liquid agent may be sucked into the normal use as it is. If the normal execution of the preliminary discharge cannot be confirmed, the preliminary discharge is reconfirmed. If the preliminary discharge is not confirmed, an appropriate measure may be taken such as replacing the medicine discharge unit 2.

The CCD sensor 9 may be located anywhere on the gas flow path 3 as long as the medicine droplets ejected during the preliminary ejection can be imaged. The light emitted from the light emitting means 4 is not necessarily visible light as long as it can be imaged by the CCD sensor 9 and can be displayed on a display unit (for example, composed of liquid crystal) of the display means. Absent. Invisible light such as infrared rays may be used. As long as the user can correctly observe the preliminary ejection state, the image displayed on the display unit of the display unit may display the image captured by the CCD sensor 9 as it is, or may be an image subjected to some image processing by the display unit. I do not care. A moving image is preferable because it is easier to observe, but it may be a still image. Image processing includes black-and-white reversal, tone correction, and contrast enhancement. In this embodiment, the other points are the same as in the first embodiment.

[Example 4]
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The external structure of this example is also as shown in FIGS. In the present embodiment, the control means is configured so that the predischarge and the normal discharge are different from the third embodiment. The relationship of the fourth embodiment with respect to the third embodiment is the same as the relationship of the second embodiment with respect to the first embodiment. Therefore, since the operation flowchart shown in FIG. 5 of the medicine ejection device 1 of the fourth embodiment has many common parts with the operation flowchart of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the different parts will be particularly described below. To do.

In the operation flowchart shown in FIG. 5, from the step (S001) where the user enters the use start state by an operation such as a power switch being pressed, to the display step (S007) for notifying the user that preliminary ejection is being performed. Is the same as in the second embodiment.

In the present embodiment, in step (S008), preliminary ejection from the ejection head 12 and lighting of the light emitting means 4 are executed to start the confirmation work, imaging is started by the CCD sensor 9, and the display unit ( An image is displayed on (not shown) (S008). Here, the user visually confirms the preliminary ejection state through a display unit (not shown) of the display means.

After that, the number of preliminary ejection operations is counted up to finish the confirmation work after the preliminary ejection is completed, the light emitting means 4 is turned off, and the imaging by the CCD sensor 9 and the display on the display means (not shown) are finished. (S009).

Subsequent steps after the step (S010) for performing the inspection of the medicine ejection unit 2 are the same as those in the second embodiment.

Also in this embodiment, since the suction operation cannot be performed unless the preliminary discharge operation is performed at least once, the reliability of the normal discharge can be further improved and the user can be provided with a sense of security. it can. Moreover, you may give the device for improving an imaging state more. For example, the imaging direction and the light emission direction from the light emitting means 4 are not substantially opposed to each other, and the visibility is increased by not directly imaging the emitted light, or invisible light rays such as infrared rays that cannot be seen with the naked eye are used. For example, the CCD sensor 9 can pick up images with high sensitivity.

[Example 5]
2 and 6 are drawings showing the structure of the main part of the third embodiment of the present invention. However, in this embodiment, there is no light emitting means 4 in FIG. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 10 denotes sound collecting means such as a microphone. In addition, the discharge method of the head unit 12 is assumed to be a bubble jet (registered trademark) method using a heater.

Also in the present embodiment, the discharge during normal medicine inhalation is started in conjunction with the inhalation operation by the detection means such as the negative pressure sensor 16. On the other hand, at the time of preliminary ejection for checking the ejection state of the head unit 12, ejection is started by a switch operation or the like that allows the user to arbitrarily instruct the start. The preliminary discharge amount may be set to be equal to or less than the normal discharge amount on the apparatus side, or may be performed by adjusting the switch operation by the user. These are the same as in the first embodiment.

In the case of ejection by a method using a heater, a minute sound (cavitation noise) is generated when the drug foams and disappears. The volume of the cavitation noise increases or decreases depending on the number of nozzles discharged at the same time, and the frequency of the sound generated is predicted depending on the driving cycle and the number of divided blocks. Therefore, by utilizing this fact, the collected sound may be filtered so as to more effectively pick up the cavitation noise in each case so as to confirm the suitability of ejection more reliably. Further, the normalization or abnormality of the predicted cavitation noise may be confirmed in more detail by appropriately changing the filtering frequency band.

In this embodiment, cavitation noise is collected by the microphone 10 and amplified by an amplifying means (not shown, which can be used as an amplifying means for amplifying the sound in the predicted frequency band). Pronounced from a speaker (not shown). When the user listens to the sound, it can be confirmed whether or not the preliminary ejection is normally performed. Here, if it can be confirmed that the preliminary discharge is normally performed, the liquid agent may be sucked into the normal use as it is. If the normal execution of the preliminary discharge cannot be confirmed, the preliminary discharge is reconfirmed. If the preliminary discharge is not confirmed, an appropriate measure may be taken such as replacing the medicine discharge unit 2.

Generated between the speaker (not shown) and the microphone 10 by shifting the entire spectrum of the input sound by a minute amount in the high frequency or low frequency direction when amplifying the sound collected by the microphone 10 Can be prevented. Further, the sound generation means for listening to the output sound may be an earphone instead of a speaker.

[Example 6]
Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The external structure of this example is also as shown in FIGS. However, even in this embodiment, there is no light emitting means 4 in FIG. In the present embodiment, the control means is configured so that the predischarge and the normal discharge are different from the fifth embodiment.

The relationship of the sixth embodiment with respect to the fifth embodiment is the same as the relationship of the second embodiment with respect to the first embodiment. Accordingly, the operation flowchart shown in FIG. 7 of the medicine ejection device 1 of the sixth embodiment has many common parts with the operation flowchart of the second embodiment shown in FIG. To do.

In the operation flowchart shown in FIG. 7, from the step (S001) where the user enters the use start state by an operation such as pressing the power switch, to the display step (S007) for notifying the user that preliminary ejection is being performed. Is the same as in the second embodiment.

In the present embodiment, in step (S008), preliminary discharge from the discharge head 12 is executed to start the confirmation work, sound collection is started by the microphone 10, and amplification and sounding are performed (S008). Here, the user visually confirms the preliminary ejection state through a speaker (not shown).

Thereafter, after the preliminary discharge operation is completed, the number of preliminary discharge operations is counted up to end the confirmation work, and the sound collection / amplification / sound generation ends (S009).

Subsequent steps after the step (S010) for performing the inspection of the medicine ejection unit 2 are the same as those in the second embodiment.

Also in this embodiment, since the suction operation cannot be performed unless the preliminary discharge operation is performed at least once, the reliability of the normal discharge can be further improved and the user can be provided with a sense of security. it can. In the operation flow, sound collection / amplification / sound generation is turned on at the start step (S008) and turned off at the end step (S009), but it is only necessary to turn on / off sound generation. It does not have to be controlled.

By the way, in the above embodiment, the state of discharge when performing the preliminary discharge operation smaller than the normal discharge amount was allowed to be confirmed by the user visually or audibly, but the presenting means of each of the above embodiments were appropriately combined, You may make it make a user confirm both visually and auditorily. For example, the discharge state at the time of performing the preliminary discharge operation may be presented by displaying an image on the display unit of the display unit and generating sound by the sound generation unit. As a result, the user can more reliably determine whether discharge is appropriate.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a state before the medicine ejection unit and the mouthpiece of the first embodiment of the liquid medicine ejection apparatus of the present invention are mounted. It is a perspective view which shows the Example of the liquid agent discharge apparatus of this invention. 6 is an operation flowchart of a second embodiment of the liquid agent discharge apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a front view showing a state before the medicine ejection unit and the mouthpiece of the third embodiment of the liquid medicine ejection apparatus of the present invention are mounted. 7 is an operation flowchart of a fourth embodiment of the liquid agent discharge apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a front view showing a state before the medicine ejection unit and the mouthpiece of the fifth embodiment of the liquid medicine ejection apparatus of the present invention are mounted. 10 is an operation flowchart of the sixth embodiment of the liquid agent discharge apparatus of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Liquid dispenser (drug dispenser)
2 Drug delivery unit
3 Presentation means (passage means, gas flow path)
4 Light emission means
5 mouthpiece
6 Inlet
7 Outlet
8 Cover
9 Presenting means (imaging means, CCD sensor)
10 Presenting means (sound collecting means, microphone)

Claims (2)

Bubble jet ejecting medicine agent with (R) heads as the chemical, a medicine agent delivery device to be inhaled by a user,
When the head performs a preliminary discharge operation that is less than the normal discharge amount, the head includes a display unit for presenting the discharge state without causing the determination of the discharge state to be confirmed by the user ,
When the head performs the preliminary ejection operation, the presenting means collects sound that is emitted at the time of ejection, and sound generation means that allows a user to hear the sound collected by the sound collection means Including,
Pharmacists ejection apparatus characterized by. The presenting means further includes an amplifying means for amplifying the sound collected by the sound collecting means,
The sounding means causes the user to listen to the sound amplified by the amplifying means;
Pharmacists discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a.

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